The Natrol® AcaiBerry Diet formula is smart fortwo reasons: (1) It helps boost your metabolism, theengine that drives calorie burning; (2) The polyphenolantioxidant compounds have the capacity to neutralizefree radicals produced by regular exercise. And that’simportant when you are trying to get in shape.†

You can lose up to 20 pounds in 10 weeks when youfollow the AcaiBerry Diet Meal and Exercise Plan atwww.NatrolAcaiBerry.com.†*

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Warning: Consult your physician prior to using this product it you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, under 18 years of age or have a medical condition. Discontinue use two weeks prior to surgery.KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

Manufactured by NATROL, Inc.Chatsworth, CA 91311 • USA

Health Notes

Disclaimer:
This scientific independent research is provided by Aisle7 and is for informational use only. GNC provides this information as a service but does not endorse it. Likewise, Aisle7 does not recommend or endorse any specific products.

Can Diet Prevent ALS?

Risk of developing ALS decreased 25% in people consuming the highest amount of carotenoids

Eating more brightly colored fruits and vegetables might help prevent or delay the onset of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

What is ALS?

ALS affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control movement. Over time these nerve cells die, leading to an inability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement. Eventually, the disease may lead to total paralysis and is nearly always fatal. ALS usually doesn't affect intelligence, and people with advanced ALS can still control their eye movements as well as bladder and bowel function.

Colorful help for ALS

Several studies have suggested that oxidative stress-damage caused by unstable compounds called free radicals-contributes to ALS. Some studies have shown that high-dose vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, can slow the progression of ALS in animals with the hereditary form of the disease.

According to the study published in Annals of Neurology, to see what effect antioxidant carotenoids and vitamin C had on the risk of developing ALS, researchers pooled the results of five different studies including the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study, the Cancer Prevention Study II-Nutrition Cohort, the Multiethnic Cohort, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, and the Nurses' Health Study. Information from more than one million people was included in the study. Of these, 1,153 people died from ALS.

Risk of developing ALS decreased 25% in people consuming the highest amount of carotenoids compared with those consuming the least.

Risk of developing ALS was 21% lower for those with higher dietary lutein intake, and 15% lower for those with higher beta-carotene intake.

Vitamin C and other carotenoids, including lycopene and beta-cryptoxanthin, didn't seem to affect ALS risk.

"ALS is a devastating degenerative disease that generally develops between the ages of 40 and 70, and affects more men than women," said senior study author Dr. Alberto Ascherio, Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. "Understanding the impact of food consumption on ALS development is important. Our study is one of the largest to date to examine the role of dietary antioxidants in preventing ALS."

Get your carotenoids here

Lutein is found in many vegetables, including kale, collard greens, corn, romaine lettuce, turnip greens, spinach, Brussels sprouts, and zucchini. Egg yolks are another rich source.

"Our findings suggest that consuming carotenoid-rich foods may help prevent or delay the onset of ALS," concluded Dr. Ascherio. "Further food-based analyses are needed to examine the impact of dietary nutrients on ALS."

(Ann Neurol 2012; DOI: 10.1002/ana.23820)

Kimberly Beauchamp, ND, received her doctoral degree from Bastyr University, the nation's premier academic institution for science-based natural medicine. She co-founded South County Naturopaths in Wakefield, RI, where she practiced whole family care with an emphasis on nutritional counseling, herbal medicine, detoxification, and food allergy identification and treatment. Her blog, Eat Happy, helps take the drama out of healthy eating with real food recipes and nutrition news that you can use. Dr. Beauchamp is a regular contributor to Healthnotes Newswire.